016. Can Good People Be Saved out of the Church

016. Can Good People Be Saved out of the Church

16 CAN GOOD PEOPLE BE SAVED OUT OF THE CHURCH Acts 10:1-8;Acts 11:1-14

INTRODUCTION An important question; the Bible must answer it; we should take the Bible answer.

I. MEANING OF THE QUESTION 1. One says "good people can be saved any where."

(a) How do we know?

(b) Has God said so?

(c) Will we not have to find it in the Bible, Since it is God that saves?

2. Others say, "Oh yes, church does not save one, hence it does not matter which church you ’join.’ "

3. Will he save one out of a denomination? Not the question, but out of THE CHURCH.

(a) Will he save one IN a denomination?

4. How good must one be? Whose standard of goodness -God’s or man’s? ls God’s IN or OUT of the church?

5. Preach one to perdition; no.

6. If saved out of the church, why have the church? Christ paid too much for it.

II. ARGUMENT: WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

1. If saved out of the church, saved out of what the church is.

2. It is God’s called out.

3. It is kingdom of God. (John 3:5.) 4. It is house of God. (1 Timothy 3:15.) 5. It is family of God.

6. It is body of Christ. (Colossians 1:18; Colossians 1:24.) 7. It is God ’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9.) (a) We are living stones. (1 Peter 2:5.) Ill. ANOTHER ARGUMENT 1. If saved out of it, saved out of and without that which is in the church.

2. Has God made no distinction between church and world, putting same things in both?

3. All spiritual blessings in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3.) 4. Redemption and forgiveness. (Ephesians 1:6.) 5. Blood of Christ in his body, the church.

6. All Christians in the church-same process that makes Christians puts them in the church.

7. Salvation not in devil’s territory.

IV. CORNELIUS AND SAUL 1. Cornelius , a good man: devout; feared God; gave much alms; prayed to God always; had seen and talked with an angel; he was unsaved. (Acts 11:14.) 2. Saul of Tarsus; chief of sinners . (1 Timothy 1:15.)

CONCLUSION These two extremes had to come into the church and all who come between these must do the same.